*Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*

In selecting for fiber, one is interested in both quantity (weight) and quality of fiber (length, fineness, style, character, absence of Kemp, etc.). In addition to fiber, one must be concerned with traits that contribute to the survival or viability (soundness, fertility, etc.) of the individual and flocks.

The selection of any breed for a particular ecological domain may not give the desired result if the required care is not paid in selecting genetically superior individual as parents of future generation. Indigenous goat breeds (Chyangra, Sinhal, Khari, and Terai goats) and exotic breeds (Jamnapari, Barbari, Beetal, Saanen, Damascus, Kiko, etc.) have their own importance. Nepal government has focused mainly on selection and mating of the best to the best individuals within the existing indigenous goat population. However, recommendation of the appropriate breeds for the specific ecological belt of Nepal is not consistently working at farmers' level.

Here are the important selection criteria breeders are following to select the goats in general for their genetic for improvement:


*Goats (Capra) - From Ancient to Modern*

*4.2.5 Saanen*

conditions.

*4.2.6 Beetal*

**5.1 Selection**

**5. Breeding management**

parents of the next generation.

of mid- and far-western regions. Goat Research Station, Bandipur; RARS, Khajura; and GDF, Budhitola, are the government-owned farms with nucleus herd of Boer goat in Nepal. However, a comprehensive study on survivability, growth, and reproductive

Saanen goats are dairy goats originating from Switzerland, in the Saanen Valley.

Saanen does are heavy milk producers (on an average of 4 L/day) and usually yield 3–4% milk fat. It is medium to large in size (female weighing approximately 65–70 kg and males weighing about 80–90 kg) with rugged bone and plenty of vigor. Saanen goats are white or light cream in color, with white being preferred. The hairs are short and fine, although a fringe over the spine and thighs is often present. Ears are erect and alertly carried, preferably pointing forward. The face is straight or dished. A tendency toward having a Roman nose is being discriminated against. The breed is sensitive to excessive sunlight and performs best in cooler

The Beetal is a breed used for meat and milk production found in Punjab, Pakistan, and India. The Beetal is usually black and the males have long twisting horns. The breed is similar to the Jamnapari but smaller. The adult male weighs around 60 kg and females are 35–40 kg (**Table 6**). The coat is short and lustrous. The face line is convex, with a typical Roman nose but not as prominent as in Jamnapari. Ears are long and flat, curled, and drooping with ear length of 24.8 cm. The udder is large and well developed, with large conical teats. Pictorial presenta-

Genotype of an individual is determined by the genes received from the buck and doe at fertilization (union of sperm and ova) and remains the same throughout life except in few circumstances. Therefore improving genetic superiority of kids depends on the careful selection of superior bucks and does and mating them appropriately. Thus, selection is the most basic and common tool being practiced for genetic improvement in the major economic traits of goats. It is the process of choosing superior goats (male and female) from the herd that are likely to be the

Selection, whether based on individual, family, or pedigree, is dependent upon

There is potential to develop dual-purpose meat and fiber producers but only under improved nutritional conditions compared to present day. Thus, there is great possibility of developing Chyangra as a dual-purpose goat breed in mountain

the economically important traits (meat, milk, pashmina, etc.) of the selected genes. Goats in Nepal have been mostly selected for meat production. However, the mountain goats are also being selected for pashmina (fiber) production, and in very rare cases, they are being selected for increased milk production. These traits are quantitative and are influenced by many genes (additive, dominance, and

epistatic). Chyangra goats produce up to 2–3 kg pashmina fiber annually.

tion of popular exotic breeds in Nepal is provided in **Figure 2**.

performances as well as efficiency (economics) needs to be investigated.

**66**

ecosystem.


Chyangra goats are being selected by the breeders and/or herders to some extent for improving:


Selection for pashmina fiber quality includes primarily fiber diameter (finer fibers preferred), length (4 inches minimum), freedom from Kemp (coarse, brittle, chalky white hair mixed in the fleece), and desirable lock formation.

Selection for quantity of pashmina fiber is accomplished efficiently by using fiber weights of Chyangra goats which are being considered as breeding animals. However, history indicates that most producers practice visual selection. In this case the predicting indicators of fleece weight are:



*(a) When both selected bucks and does are used; (b) when only selected bucks are used. R = response to selection per year (%). Source: [29].*

### **Table 7.**

*Predicted response to selection for both growth and reproductive traits in Khari goat breed.*

Genetic gain and response to selection have been studied for some weight and litter traits of Khari goats [29], and it is reported that these selection parameters were higher when both males and females are selected than when only males were selected (see **Table 7**).

### **5.2 Pure breeding**

Pure breeding within the indigenous goat population is common practice among the herders especially in the mountain and high hill region. Thus, Chyangra and Sinhal goats are bred within themselves for maintaining genetic purity without losing the adaptation potentials of the flock. In some areas where goat improvement interventions are not implemented by the government and/or development agencies, pure breeding of Khari goat is common as well. This system of breeding helps maintain the genetic purity of native breeds un-deteriorated and could be conserved for long.

### **5.3 Crossbreeding**

In the last few decades (1990s), Khari goats were massively crossed with the Indian Jamnapari and Barbari goat breeds for increasing growth and productivity of native breed, assuming that the crosses of Jamnapari and Barbari goats with Khari would give the better result. After some research works carried out by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) at its agricultural research stations (ARSs), the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) again convinced that the Khari could be the best breed for meat production because of its better production characteristics, especially higher twinning percentage, prolificacy, lower kidding interval, efficient average daily gain (ADG), higher resistance against the diseases and parasites, etc.

Now, Khari goats are being crossbred with Boer either naturally or through artificial insemination with frozen semen in hilly regions across the country through the initiation of leading private goat entrepreneurs (Bagmati Goat Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Dhadhing; Bagaichha farm house, Nawalparasi; Jagatput Agro, Chitwan, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and internationally funded projects including Agriculture and Food Security Project (AFSP) funded by the World Bank, Improved Seeds Program for Farmers (KUBK/IFSP) funded by IFAD, etc.

**69**

*Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal*

**Breed Body weight kg (mean ± SE)**

**At birth 4 M 6 M 9 M 12 M**

Khari 1.75 ± 0.38 7.57 ± 2.33 11.02 ± 4.31 15.23 ± 6.17 19.24 ± 5.67 Sinhal 1.87 ± 0.10 11.22 ± 3.49 14.03 ± 3.12 17.34 ± 4.67 22.05 ± 5.68 Barberi 1.43 ± 0.42 7.35 ± 1.01 10.48 ± 1.88 14.40 ± 3.89 19.38 ± 4.89 50% Jamnapari 2.32 ± 0.65 9.11 ± 2.74 14.69 ± 4.60 18.38 ± 4.44 21.27 ± 5.06 50% Barberi 1.73 ± 0.28 6.87 ± 2.32 10.31 ± 1.26 14.35 ± 3.63 18.43 ± 4.21 50% Kiko 1.83 ± 0.72 7.86 ± 1.10 12.27 ± 3.68 17.81 ± 4.38 20.0 ± 3.97 50% Boer 2.20 ± 0.61 13.80 ± 3.29 17.85 ± 4.36 25.25 ± 5.88 34.10 ± 8.62

*Growth performance of indigenous and crossbred goats at Goat Research Station (GRS), Bandipur.*

**(PWW)**

232 2.38 ± 0.04b 7.03 ± 0.14ab 11.72 ± 0.26ab 20.70 ± 0.15b

10 2.21 ± 0.09c 6.37 ± 0.30b 10.53 ± 0.55c 20.63 ± 0.90b

218 2.69 ± 0.04ab 7.68 ± 0.14a 13.45 ± 0.26a 23.40 ± 0.19a

16 2.86 ± 0.10a 7.55 ± 0.33a 13.62 ± 0.60a 23.91 ± 0.58a

296 2.26 ± 0.04b 6.58 ± 0.15b 11.11 ± 0.27bc 18.05 ± 0.11c

Grand mean 772 2.48 ± 0.03 7.04 ± 0.12 12.09 ± 0.22 20.52 ± 0.16

**Weaning (WWT) 6 months (SMW)**

**Fixed factors No. Birth (BWT) Pre-weaning** 

The preliminary results suggest that crossbreeding Boer with native Khari breed would give a better result with respect to higher growth rate maintaining twinning ability of the crossbred female kids. The growth and reproductive performance of Khari goats crossbred with different exotic breeds is presented hereunder (see **Tables 8** and **9**).

*Growth performance of Khari and its crossbred kids at different growth stages under farmers' field.*

Significance \*\*\* \*\*\* \*\*\* \*\*\* CV 9.73 10.30 11.12 9.34 R2 0.61 0.53 0.54 0.58

Growth performance of Khari and its crossbred kids with different blood levels of Boer and Jamnapari breeds were studied [31], and it was reported that there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the crossbred kids of different blood levels with respect to birth, pre-weaning, weaning, and 6 months weight at their respective ages. Accordingly, the crossbred kids of a three-way cross with 50% Boer:25% Khari:25% Jamnapari blood level has the best result in the weight traits at

At Goat Research Station, Bandipur, under Nepal Agricultural Research Council, 50% crossbred kids of Khari and Boer were evaluated. Preliminary results suggested

different stages as compared to other blood levels (see **Table 9**).

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*

*Source: [30].*

25% Boer:75% Khari:0% JP

25% Boer:50% Khari:25% JP

50% Boer:50% Khari:0% JP

50% Boer:25% Khari:25% JP

0% Boer:100% Khari:0% JP

**Table 9.**

*\*\*\*Significant at 0.1% level of significance.*

*JP = Jamnapari. Source: [31].*

**Table 8.**


### *Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*

**Table 8.**

*Goats (Capra) - From Ancient to Modern*

selected (see **Table 7**).

**5.2 Pure breeding**

*year (%). Source: [29].*

**Table 7.**

conserved for long.

**5.3 Crossbreeding**

and parasites, etc.

Genetic gain and response to selection have been studied for some weight and litter traits of Khari goats [29], and it is reported that these selection parameters were higher when both males and females are selected than when only males were

*Predicted response to selection for both growth and reproductive traits in Khari goat breed.*

**Traits Genetic gain/year (a) R Genetic gain/year (b) R** Birth weight (g) 105 6.4 58 3.5 Weaned weight (g) 289 4.0 159 2.2 6-month weight (g) 276 3.4 152 1.9 36-week weight (g) 295 2.9 162 1.6 48-week weight (g) 394 3.2 216 1.8 LS at birth (no) 0.008 0.5 0.005 0.3 LS at weaning (no) 0.008 0.6 0.004 0.3 LW at birth (g) 120 4.6 66 2.5 LW at weaning (g) 247 2.5 136 1.4 *(a) When both selected bucks and does are used; (b) when only selected bucks are used. R = response to selection per* 

Pure breeding within the indigenous goat population is common practice among the herders especially in the mountain and high hill region. Thus, Chyangra and Sinhal goats are bred within themselves for maintaining genetic purity without losing the adaptation potentials of the flock. In some areas where goat improvement interventions are not implemented by the government and/or development agencies, pure breeding of Khari goat is common as well. This system of breeding helps maintain the genetic purity of native breeds un-deteriorated and could be

In the last few decades (1990s), Khari goats were massively crossed with the Indian Jamnapari and Barbari goat breeds for increasing growth and productivity of native breed, assuming that the crosses of Jamnapari and Barbari goats with Khari would give the better result. After some research works carried out by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) at its agricultural research stations (ARSs), the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) again convinced that the Khari could be the best breed for meat production because of its better production characteristics, especially higher twinning percentage, prolificacy, lower kidding interval, efficient average daily gain (ADG), higher resistance against the diseases

Now, Khari goats are being crossbred with Boer either naturally or through artificial insemination with frozen semen in hilly regions across the country through the initiation of leading private goat entrepreneurs (Bagmati Goat Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Dhadhing; Bagaichha farm house, Nawalparasi; Jagatput Agro, Chitwan, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and internationally funded projects including Agriculture and Food Security Project (AFSP) funded by the World Bank, Improved Seeds Program for Farmers (KUBK/IFSP) funded by IFAD, etc.

**68**

*Growth performance of indigenous and crossbred goats at Goat Research Station (GRS), Bandipur.*


*JP = Jamnapari. Source: [31].*

### **Table 9.**

*Growth performance of Khari and its crossbred kids at different growth stages under farmers' field.*

The preliminary results suggest that crossbreeding Boer with native Khari breed would give a better result with respect to higher growth rate maintaining twinning ability of the crossbred female kids. The growth and reproductive performance of Khari goats crossbred with different exotic breeds is presented hereunder (see **Tables 8** and **9**).

Growth performance of Khari and its crossbred kids with different blood levels of Boer and Jamnapari breeds were studied [31], and it was reported that there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the crossbred kids of different blood levels with respect to birth, pre-weaning, weaning, and 6 months weight at their respective ages. Accordingly, the crossbred kids of a three-way cross with 50% Boer:25% Khari:25% Jamnapari blood level has the best result in the weight traits at different stages as compared to other blood levels (see **Table 9**).

At Goat Research Station, Bandipur, under Nepal Agricultural Research Council, 50% crossbred kids of Khari and Boer were evaluated. Preliminary results suggested


### **Table 10.**

*Growth performance of 50% Boer kids from birth to yearling age at Multiplier Herd, GRS, Bandipur.*


### **Table 11.**

*Some reproductive parameters of crossbred goats in Nepal.*

**71**

*Source: [17, 34].*

*Heritability estimates for different traits of hill goat.*

**Table 12.**

*Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal*

that there is great scope and possibility of enhancing growth and productivity (average daily weight gain) of native Khari goat in later generation by producing crossbred kids of Boer goat. Body weight of 50% Boer crossbred kids at different stages of

Furthermore, reproductive traits of Khari and its crossbred female kids are expressed differently in different genotypes (see **Table 11**). The trait value for important reproductive traits of female kids of different crosses is presented hereunder. Pictorial presentation of different crossbred goats in Nepal is provided in **Figure 3**.

Limited research has been carried out to estimate the genetic parameters of goat flocks in Nepal. Findings indicate that most of the desirable economic traits of goats in Nepal are moderately to highly heritable (see **Table 12**). Moderate to high heritability of the weight traits of *Khari* goat kids [17] indicated a relatively large contribution of additive genetic variance and potentiality for improving body weight in goats by selection. Similarly, increasing heritability of body weights of kids at the later stages of growth indicated that environmental factors have more influence on

Past studies have revealed the genetic correlation among the weight traits at different stages of growth of *Khari* goat kids ranging from 0.61 to 0.96 (see **Table 13**). The high and positive genetic correlations of weaning weight at 6, 9, and 12 months of *Khari* goat kids indicate that they are all being controlled by similar genes, and thus selection for any one of these traits would lead to positive changes in the other [35, 36].

**Traits Heritability (Harvey)** Birth weight 0.37 ± 0.12 [17] Pre-weaning weigh 0.42 ± 0.13 [17] Weaning weight 0.42 ± 0.13 [17] 6-month weight 0.46 ± 0.14 [17] 9-month weight 0.44 ± 0.13 [17] 12-month weight 0.40 ± 0.12 [17] 15-month weight 0.39 ± 0.12 [17] Litter size at birth 0.10 ± 0.093 [34] Litter size at weaning 0.05 ± 0.097 [34] Litter weight at birth 0.44 ± 0.155 [34] Litter weight at weaning 0.66 ± 0.202 [34] Kidding interval 0.03 ± 0.099 [34] Gestation length 0.21 ± 0.118 [34]

growth from birth to yearling age is presented hereunder (see **Table 10**).

birth weight than on the weights achieved on the later stage of growth.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*

**6. Variation in genetic parameters**

**6.2 Genetic and phenotypic correlation**

**6.1 Heritability**

**Figure 3.** *Crossbred goats at Goat Research Station, Bandipur (photo courtesy: Goat Research Station, Bandipur, Nepal).* *Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*

that there is great scope and possibility of enhancing growth and productivity (average daily weight gain) of native Khari goat in later generation by producing crossbred kids of Boer goat. Body weight of 50% Boer crossbred kids at different stages of growth from birth to yearling age is presented hereunder (see **Table 10**).

Furthermore, reproductive traits of Khari and its crossbred female kids are expressed differently in different genotypes (see **Table 11**). The trait value for important reproductive traits of female kids of different crosses is presented hereunder. Pictorial presentation of different crossbred goats in Nepal is provided in **Figure 3**.
